Tweet
CHARKOUDIAN RUNS FOR CITY COUNCIL IN TAKOMA PARK
Armenian Weekly
Tue, Sep 6 2011
Lorig Charkoudian, a Massachusetts native, recently announced her
candidacy for city council in Takoma Park, Md. Charkoudian has a
progressive agenda, including environmental initiatives and economic
development policies that support small and micro-enterprises. She
underscores the importance of harnessing the potential of participatory
democracy and making the city more accountable to its residents. She
hopes to increase and enhance opportunities for residents to have input
in policy decisions, and to develop a year-round pro-active budget
process, coordinated with a committee made up of council members,
residents, and staff.
Lorig Charkoudian with her family Charkoudian holds a Ph.D. in
economics from Johns Hopkins University.
She has developed and worked with community-based programs throughout
the state of Maryland and has worked professionally in dispute
resolution for 16 years, including work with a variety of public
agencies and law enforcement. She has raised revenue and managed
budgets as a non-profit executive director, and increased revenue
and programming during the economic downturn. She is currently active
with the Takoma Junction Task Force and the South of Sligo Citizens
Association, and has served on the Board of the TPSS Co-op.
Charkoudian has been working with several local non-profits to start a
commercial kitchen to be used for micro-enterprise development. Local
food is one of the many policy initiatives she is promoting.
"Supporting the development of a local food system can address several
important areas-economic development, job creation, environmental
stewardship, and health. And food gives us a chance to celebrate
different cultures and build community," she said.
She credits her appreciation for the power of food as an economic
engine and community builder to her Armenian upbringing. "I grew up
eating the churtmah, merjumek, dolma, tabouli, and babaganoush that
my grandmothers and mother made from food grown in their gardens. It
fed the community and our souls, and it was good for our bodies and
the environment."
Lorig Charkoudian was raised in a political family, with both father
and mother involved in local politics. Her mother, Bethel Bilezikian
Charkoudian, was active in the civil rights movement in the early
1960's, and currently serves on the Newton Parks and Recreation
Commission. Her father, Levon Charkoudian, was commissioner of the
Massachusetts Department of Community Affairs under Governor Sargent.
Her family has always had a strong presence and active involvement
in the Armenian community. Three of her Marashtsi grandparents were
survivors of the Armenian Genocide. Her aunt, Arppie Charkoudian,
was the international president of the Armenian Relief Society (ARS).
Lorig Charkoudian herself attended the AGBU Armenian Elementary School
in Watertown, Mass.
Lorig Charkoudian lives in Takoma Park, Md., with her husband, Matt,
and their children Aline and Raffi. For more information and to
support her campaign, visit lorigcharkoudian.com.
Armenian Weekly
Tue, Sep 6 2011
Lorig Charkoudian, a Massachusetts native, recently announced her
candidacy for city council in Takoma Park, Md. Charkoudian has a
progressive agenda, including environmental initiatives and economic
development policies that support small and micro-enterprises. She
underscores the importance of harnessing the potential of participatory
democracy and making the city more accountable to its residents. She
hopes to increase and enhance opportunities for residents to have input
in policy decisions, and to develop a year-round pro-active budget
process, coordinated with a committee made up of council members,
residents, and staff.
Lorig Charkoudian with her family Charkoudian holds a Ph.D. in
economics from Johns Hopkins University.
She has developed and worked with community-based programs throughout
the state of Maryland and has worked professionally in dispute
resolution for 16 years, including work with a variety of public
agencies and law enforcement. She has raised revenue and managed
budgets as a non-profit executive director, and increased revenue
and programming during the economic downturn. She is currently active
with the Takoma Junction Task Force and the South of Sligo Citizens
Association, and has served on the Board of the TPSS Co-op.
Charkoudian has been working with several local non-profits to start a
commercial kitchen to be used for micro-enterprise development. Local
food is one of the many policy initiatives she is promoting.
"Supporting the development of a local food system can address several
important areas-economic development, job creation, environmental
stewardship, and health. And food gives us a chance to celebrate
different cultures and build community," she said.
She credits her appreciation for the power of food as an economic
engine and community builder to her Armenian upbringing. "I grew up
eating the churtmah, merjumek, dolma, tabouli, and babaganoush that
my grandmothers and mother made from food grown in their gardens. It
fed the community and our souls, and it was good for our bodies and
the environment."
Lorig Charkoudian was raised in a political family, with both father
and mother involved in local politics. Her mother, Bethel Bilezikian
Charkoudian, was active in the civil rights movement in the early
1960's, and currently serves on the Newton Parks and Recreation
Commission. Her father, Levon Charkoudian, was commissioner of the
Massachusetts Department of Community Affairs under Governor Sargent.
Her family has always had a strong presence and active involvement
in the Armenian community. Three of her Marashtsi grandparents were
survivors of the Armenian Genocide. Her aunt, Arppie Charkoudian,
was the international president of the Armenian Relief Society (ARS).
Lorig Charkoudian herself attended the AGBU Armenian Elementary School
in Watertown, Mass.
Lorig Charkoudian lives in Takoma Park, Md., with her husband, Matt,
and their children Aline and Raffi. For more information and to
support her campaign, visit lorigcharkoudian.com.